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Announcements
Posted by: anonymous on 04/06/2007 07:11 AM
Updated by: anonymous on 04/06/2007 07:11 AM
Expires: 01/01/2012 12:00 AM
US Appoves Gas Drilling in Colorado's HD Mountains
Thu, Apr 5, 2007 15:34 GMT
NEW YORK - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday issued a decision that could allow as many as 124 new gas well pads in the northern San Juan Basin in southwestern Colorado, The Durango (Colo.) Herald reported in its Thursday edition.
According to the paper, the decision allows for drilling on federal lands for federal mineral in a 125,000-acre region. Of that land, the report said, 20,000 acres are in the HD Mountains, where nearly 70 miles of new roads may be constructed to support future well-pad operations in an area currently designated as roadless.
Environmental opponents say the HD Mountain area is the last area of the San Juan Basin that hasn't been opened to natural gas development. Residents say they fear the drilling would create dangerous conditions, The Associated Press reported.
Mark Stiles, San Juan National Forest supervisor and BLM Center manager, called the decision the agencies' best efforts to balance two divergent interests, the paper reported.
"We've gone to great lengths in terms of mitigating impacts to natural resources and protecting public health and safety, and at the same time honoring the lease rights of those long-existing oil and gas leases out there," Stiles was quoted as saying.
According to the Herald, Stiles said there are 46 applications by energy companies awaiting approval by the federal agencies in the San Juan Basin, eight of which are in the roadless area of the HD Mountains. He said that it's likely that not all of the approved sites will be used because of issues such as lack of pipeline infrastructure or road access.
The report said six energy companies - HEC Petroleum, XTO Energy (XTO), Petrox Resources, Elm Ridge Resoures, Exok and BP PLC's (BP) BP America - hold of have applied for current mineral leases in the basin.
"Under the circumstances, I think the BLM has come up with a reasonable decision," the paper quoted U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., as saying in a statement. "However, I am very disappointed that it will allow for more drilling in the roadless areas in the HD Mountains. While it would be better to implement the consensus that opposes drilling I understand that under current law they have to provide access to existing oil and gas leases."
© 2007 Dow Jones Newswires.
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